New PSAs Empower Homeowners Falling Behind on their Mortgage Payments to Call 888-995-HOPE for Free Assistance Today

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Homeowners Reminded of New Opportunities for Help, Including Making Home Affordable® Program Extension through December 2013

News provided by

The Ad Council

Dec 12, 2012, 06:12 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Data shows that nearly one in 14 U.S. homeowners has fallen behind on his or her mortgage payments. To encourage struggling homeowners to take advantage of new opportunities to get help and avoid foreclosure, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Ad Council are announcing today a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) as part of the national Making Home Affordable® Foreclosure Prevention Assistance campaign. The new ads are being distributed ahead of the month of January – a time when historically many families struggle with their bills and are at increased risk of foreclosure.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59446-ad-council-new-making-home-affordable-psas

Ad Council research shows that many struggling homeowners delay conversations about their mortgage concerns because they feel confused about where to turn for help and who to trust. This campaign identifies with those homeowners and encourages them to reach out now by calling 888-995-HOPE (4673) to speak to a HUD-approved housing expert or by visiting MakingHomeAffordable.gov to learn about the available options. As announced earlier this year, to help more families avoid foreclosure, the Making Home Affordable Program has been extended through December 2013 and the eligibility criteria have been broadened. Now, homeowners with rental properties and additional homeowners facing a negative change in their finances may be eligible for assistance.

"While cities across the country are beginning to recover from an unprecedented housing crisis, too many families are still struggling with their mortgage payments and are unsure of where to turn for help," said Treasury Undersecretary for Domestic Finance Mary Miller. "Millions of homeowners have gotten help to avoid foreclosure since 2009. We want to make sure struggling homeowners know that they do not need to go through this alone – there are free resources available to help homeowners avoid foreclosure."

Created pro bono by Chicago-based advertising agency Schafer Condon Carter, the new print, radio, outdoor and web PSAs are being distributed in English and Spanish to strongly encourage homeowners not to give up hope and remind them that there are free resources available to help. The new PSAs, which mark the final phase of a three-year campaign, direct homeowners to call 888-995-HOPE (4673) for free access to HUD-approved housing experts who are available to speak one-on-one about solutions based on each family's individual circumstances, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Additionally, the campaign drives homeowners to the website, MakingHomeAffordable.gov, which hosts robust online resources where homeowners can learn how to address their mortgage concerns.

"We know that even as the economy is picking up steam, there are still millions of families across the nation facing the threat of home foreclosure," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. "We hope to be able to reach these Americans with a message of hope and inspire them to get the help they need."

"All of us at SCC feel honored to be working with the Ad Council, Treasury, and HUD on this campaign which is providing real assistance to struggling homeowners," said David Selby, president and Managing Partner of Schafer Condon Carter. "At its core, the campaign attempts to capture the inertia and intense mental paralysis homeowners feel when faced with the prospect of losing their homes. Our hope is that this advertising will speak directly and powerfully to those most in need of help and cause them to take immediate action."

The national Making Home Affordable Foreclosure Prevention Assistance campaign by Treasury, HUD, and the Ad Council was first launched in the summer of 2010. The PSAs have received $68.7 million in donated media to date. Per the Ad Council model, all PSAs will be aired and run in time and space donated by the media.

The Ad Council

The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a 70-year history of marshalling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action, and saving lives. For more information, please visit www.adcouncil.org. You can also visit www.facebook.com/adcouncil or follow the Ad Council on Twitter @AdCouncil.

Schafer Condon Carter

Schafer Condon Carter is widely recognized as one of the top independent advertising agencies in the United States. SCC has built its success by challenging conventional approaches to marketing and delivering a tightly orchestrated, fully integrated brand vision for its clients across an infinite set of consumer touch points. A simple mission drives the agency's entrepreneurial spirit and aggressive, growth-oriented culture: "Think Again." SCC's client roster includes: Allen Edmonds, Beam Global Spirits, Campbell Soup Co., Chicago Cubs, ConAgra Foods, Giordano's, John Morrell Food Group, Land O'Lakes, National Pork Board, Procter & Gamble, Rotary International, Solo Cup and Terlato. The agency's wholly owned network includes SCC|Public Relations and SCC|Digital. For more information, visit sccadv.com

SOURCE The Ad Council